Scan barcode
julierambaeck's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Soooo this was unexpected... Not to be dramatic or anything, but this is the most well written book I have ever read... and one of the best books in general that I've read...
Everything about this was perfect! The beginning was heartbreaking, the middle was thought provoking, the ending was bittersweet and perfect!
This book tackles so much. It is about grief, grieving the life you could have had, grieving the loss of people you love. It is about love, love in humans, love for the world, love for art and the little things in life. It is about finding your purpose in life and in the world. It is about being invisible and seen. It is a book about life and everything that comes with it. It is a very slow book, nothing really happens but at the same time everything happens.
V.E. Schwabs writing is incredible in this book - it could literally be studied in school.
Addie was such a strong, cool and amazing character. AND HENRYYYYY! Oh the love of my life! Both characters are so incredibly real.
All in all, I really loved this book, and I have never read anything like it before.
Everything about this was perfect! The beginning was heartbreaking, the middle was thought provoking, the ending was bittersweet and perfect!
This book tackles so much. It is about grief, grieving the life you could have had, grieving the loss of people you love. It is about love, love in humans, love for the world, love for art and the little things in life. It is about finding your purpose in life and in the world. It is about being invisible and seen. It is a book about life and everything that comes with it. It is a very slow book, nothing really happens but at the same time everything happens.
V.E. Schwabs writing is incredible in this book - it could literally be studied in school.
Addie was such a strong, cool and amazing character. AND HENRYYYYY! Oh the love of my life! Both characters are so incredibly real.
All in all, I really loved this book, and I have never read anything like it before.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: War and Fire/Fire injury
jamiejanae_6's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
korikam's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Alcoholism
rainynook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
New favorite book! Wow, loved the whole story arc, and such beautiful, memorable, luminous writing. Very well done. I read the book + listened to the Audible version - extremely well done by the talented Julia Whelan. So good.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment
aruggiero49's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was so bored for the majority of this book, and then it took a major turn. I did find the last few chapters emotional and the story’s premise interesting, but it was very repetitive (intentional but still annoying to read) and I struggled to connect with the characters, especially Addie. The ending also made me burst out laughing because it was just that ridiculous. All in all, not one for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
kmmstutz's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Achingly beautiful. The last 25% is a 5 star for me, for sure.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
jessicadoom's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I've put off reading this book for so long. Everyone would tell me they loved it with all their heart. That it became their favorite book after they read it. (Except my sister, who simply described it as "okay.) Hearing that kind of praise always intimidates me. I'm worried it won't live up to the hype and that somehow I'm going to disappoint my loved ones if I don't love their favorite books.
(Can you tell I'm a chronic people pleaser?)
But, we're moving soon and I'm trying to work on my physical TBR. With that, I'm trying books that I'm not sure I'll love enough to keep. This fit the bill, and the audiobook was available on Hoopla. So, I dove in.
For the first, oh, three-quarters or so of the book, I was in love. I couldn't wait to see where the narrators took us. How would their stories end? And, with this, I begun writing my own ending to their stories in my hopeful little head. (Writers....)
This is not the ending we received, however. I hit part six and all of a sudden my mood towards this book shifted a bit. Yes, the writing was still beautiful. No one can say that the style of this novel isn't lyrical, poetic, artistic, etc. However, the plot (or lack thereof) took me to a place I wasn't ready to go. So, we ended at a solid four out of five instead of that glorious five stars I planned to issue.
The highlights for me were the blatant queerness of both narrators, the history we were able to witness through Addie's eyes, and the small reveals that really did help to drive the book forward. Would I read it again? Probably not. But I'm certainly not upset that I did give this one a try. It just might not be something I take with me to my next home library.
(Can you tell I'm a chronic people pleaser?)
But, we're moving soon and I'm trying to work on my physical TBR. With that, I'm trying books that I'm not sure I'll love enough to keep. This fit the bill, and the audiobook was available on Hoopla. So, I dove in.
For the first, oh, three-quarters or so of the book, I was in love. I couldn't wait to see where the narrators took us. How would their stories end? And, with this, I begun writing my own ending to their stories in my hopeful little head. (Writers....)
This is not the ending we received, however. I hit part six and all of a sudden my mood towards this book shifted a bit. Yes, the writing was still beautiful. No one can say that the style of this novel isn't lyrical, poetic, artistic, etc. However, the plot (or lack thereof) took me to a place I wasn't ready to go. So, we ended at a solid four out of five instead of that glorious five stars I planned to issue.
The highlights for me were the blatant queerness of both narrators, the history we were able to witness through Addie's eyes, and the small reveals that really did help to drive the book forward. Would I read it again? Probably not. But I'm certainly not upset that I did give this one a try. It just might not be something I take with me to my next home library.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual content, War, and Stalking
questionable ability to consent, plot? what plot?summermc13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Death
Minor: Addiction and Alcohol
rochelleisreading's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
juan_adhd_reading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have never cried as much with any book as this one, and this is not hyperbole. This was such a lovely story; beautifully written; and it was fantastic, sad, epic, everything I expected it to be and still managed to surprise me. It is probably one of V.E. Schwab’s best works and the reason she will forever be my favorite author.
I have nothing else to say for now, as I just have finished the story. Will probably come back soon to write a full review, but for now I feel completely satisfied and very hopeful about the ending. Highly recommend!
I have nothing else to say for now, as I just have finished the story. Will probably come back soon to write a full review, but for now I feel completely satisfied and very hopeful about the ending. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, War, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Gaslighting